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  #21  
Old 03-13-2015, 05:58 PM
A6PILOT A6PILOT is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 52
Default Canopy open in flight

OK Jon, I read your reply and I have to inform the original poster that a lot of
research has already been done in 2008. Please search for "canopy open in flight" or RV-8 "improved" airflow to see all the excellent research done by our very own test pilot Jon Thocker.
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  #22  
Old 03-13-2015, 06:45 PM
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jthocker jthocker is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A6PILOT View Post
OK Jon, I read your reply and I have to inform the original poster that a lot of
research has already been done in 2008. Please search for "canopy open in flight" or RV-8 "improved" airflow to see all the excellent research done by our very own test pilot Jon Thocker.
Thanks Steve!
I couldn't remember the title to my own thread.
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  #23  
Old 03-13-2015, 08:48 PM
xblueh2o xblueh2o is offline
 
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Just wondering if the reason the canopy did open during a hammerhead was because the reduced airspeed at the top?

I think the T-34 canopy is not a fair comparison since it is a four piece canopy. A fixed windscreen, front slider, fixed center section and the rear slider. The forces acting on the rear of the canopy are not transmitted to the front slider section.

I have flown a T-28 with the canopy open and that is a very strange sensation. Step one, secure the cockpits and clear the bilges for ANYTHING loose.
When you begin to run the canopy open (it is hyd powered) there is a strange moaning noise. Once the canopy is full open it isn't bad at all but there is a point as the canopy is either almost closed or just starting to open where the airflow is such that it will try and pull your helmet off.
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  #24  
Old 03-13-2015, 09:02 PM
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ColoRv ColoRv is offline
 
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A, uh...friend of mine once took off with his -8 canopy unlatched. It rolled back perhaps an inch during a rather aggressive climb out. I...uh, my friend leveled out, turned on the autopilot and placed a hand on each side of the canopy and pushed it forward. Easy peasy, no pucker. Now, when he took off with tip topped tanks and left the right gas cap on the ramp....that was a bit more dramatic. Glance out at wing as I, uh...he rolled right and there looks to be a firehose of fuel shooting out the hole in the wing. Still makes me laugh. The things we do when we are gaining experience...or rather we hear about our friends doing. :-)
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  #25  
Old 03-14-2015, 12:32 AM
Sig600 Sig600 is offline
 
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I've taken off once with the -8canopy unlatched. Didn't catch it until after landing, canopy never budged.

New habit pattern, if the canopy is closed, it's latched. No reason not to.
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  #26  
Old 03-14-2015, 12:51 AM
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skylor skylor is offline
 
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Location: Southern California
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Default Unlatched Takeoff

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sig600 View Post
I've taken off once with the -8canopy unlatched. Didn't catch it until after landing, canopy never budged.

New habit pattern, if the canopy is closed, it's latched. No reason not to.
I started a takeoff once with my canopy unlatched. It was closed and latched during run-up, then I started to open it while waiting at the limit line for a ridiculously long time while the trainee-controller held me short for an aircraft on downwind flying a B-52 pattern on a hot day. Of course, as soon as I opened the latch, I was cleared for takeoff, and I forgot to relatch it. The takeoff acceleration caused the canopy to slide open very rapidly. The movement immediately caught my attention, and instinctively, I grabbed it with my left hand and pushed it forward. I'm pretty sure that if I had ignored it, it would have slammed all the way open and who knows what would have happened if I had continued to takeoff that way.

On the other hand, I ended up with my left hand stuck on the canopy latch while flying the takeoff roll, so my hand wasn't on the throttle if I had to abort. Fortunately, it was uneventful and I was able to force the canopy closed and latch it for an uneventful cross country flight.

Skylor
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  #27  
Old 03-14-2015, 05:28 AM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
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Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight View Post
Take it from a long-time RV-8 pilot - Mel is right. Don't ask me how I know....
Not a long time 8 pilot, but from experience with the 7, it will open about 2-3" and cannot be closed or opened further.

No big deal, fly the airplane, land, close it and continue flight. Don't ask me how I know.....
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  #28  
Old 03-14-2015, 06:16 AM
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ronschreck ronschreck is offline
 
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Location: Gilbert, AZ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xblueh2o View Post
Just wondering if the reason the canopy did open during a hammerhead was because the reduced airspeed at the top?
Exactly. I have noticed that the canopy latch can easily become unlatched in flight but the air loads keep the canopy firmly in place. In this instance (a hammerhead turn) the air loads at the point when the airspeed was zero and the airplane was oriented vertically and the latch was unlatched, the canopy slid to the full open position. Looking back, I wonder what it says about me that I grabbed my hat first!
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